BARNSLEY Woolley Miners captain Liam Johnson is pleased overall with a seventh-placed finish this season and, although he is leaving the club, believes it has a bright future.
The Shaw Laners, who lost their final game at relegated Elsecar, ended with eight wins and ten defeats. They had been bottom in late June but recovered to finish comfortably in mid-table.
Johnson said: “We had eyes on the top three at the start of the season but, with everything that has happened, we’re happy to finish seventh and giving ourselves a lot of credit.
“I have played a lot of cricket and never been in a dressing room so depleted with injuries as we were at the start of the season. Losing became a habit and confidence dropped but the way we turned it around was brilliant.
“They are a young team who are still developing and the young lads learned a lot.
“Everyone contributed to getting us out of the mess we were in.
“In the second half of the season, we had the third most points. So it’s been a positive end to the year.”
Johnson is stepping down as captain and potentially retiring or playing at a lower level.
His replacement is yet to be announced while spinner Oliver Jackson is also leaving to emigrate to Australia.
Johnson said: “The club has a really good team in place. I have never been in a dressing room with as much talent.
“I am sure they will look to strengthen with a few signings but they have the makings of a team that can challenge for a lot of trophies in the next few years.”
Barnsley suffered a three-run loss in a derby at bottom club Elsecar on the final day of the season.
Arsalan Mir made 52 and Tanzeel Ali 72 in Elsecar’s 247 then Mir took five wickets and George Dixon three.
Ciaran Stenton made 54 for Barnsley.
Johnson said: “It was disappointing but it’s a damp squib of a game.
“Elsecar were relegated and played with freedom.
“We had run out of puff after a tough season.
“We looked dead and buried but Adam Copley got us back in it and we needed three off the last ball to tie.
“Oliver Jackson was bowled.
“We showed some character and the result didn’t really matter because we would have still been seventh even if we won.”
Barnsley tried to rearrange their home game with Appleby Frodingham – which was called off due to travellers camping at Shaw Lane – but could not find a free date so the game was called a draw.
Cawthorne won by a wicket at relegated Treeton so finished eighth.
Captain Mike Jepps recorded superb figures of seven for 29 off 11.2 overs to bowl the hosts out for 147.
Cawthorne were 64 for five then, after a stand of 67, lost four wickets for five runs but the last pair added 11 and Kade Fletcher won it with 72 not out.
